Tom Burke

January 2026
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The 1960s were a tumultuous and divisive time in the United States, as they were in many other countries. It was during those years, as a very young teen, I was first asked the question, “Are you straight, or are you a head?” In all honesty, at 13 years old I had no idea what either of these terms meant, but one seemed more acceptable than the other, so I replied, “I’m a head.”

I soon came to discover that a “head” was a person who, to be blunt, took various illegal drugs. But it implied much more. Heads stood in bold defiance of the culture. Heads dressed differently. Heads who were male almost invariably had long hair. In short, heads were cool.

“Straights,” on the other hand, were dull, boring, and unimaginative. They were trapped in the “rat race.” Straights were something to be avoided.

In subsequent years, the term “straight” has taken on other meanings, but it is still generally presented in contrast to something viewed as more daring and more desirable. In this view, to be straight is to be on the losing team. But what about God’s view?

Proverbs 4:11–12 (New International Version)I instruct you in the way of wisdom and lead you along straight paths.

When you walk, your steps will not be hampered; when you run, you will not stumble.

Wait a minute … that sounds good, doesn’t it?

Proverbs 3:5–6 (New International Version)Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;

In all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.

Hmmm … I have walked down quite a few paths, and the straight ones have proven to be simpler. They get me to my destination more quickly. Wouldn’t this also be true of the path of my life?

Apparently, God likes straight things. And, thankfully, He is also very good at making straight things out of crooked things.

 Isaiah 45:2 (King James Version)I will go before thee, and make the crooked places straight: I will break in pieces the gates of brass, and cut in sunder the bars of iron.

Isaiah 42:16 (King James Version)And I will bring the blind by a way that they knew not; I will lead them in paths that they have not known: I will make darkness light before them, and crooked things straight. These things will I do unto them, and not forsake them.

So it appears that the true choice facing us is not between straight and cool, but between straight and crooked. What is so bad about being crooked? Consider the following:

Deuteronomy 32:4–6 (King James Version)He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he.

 They have corrupted themselves, their spot is not the spot of his children: they are a perverse and crooked generation.

 Do ye thus requite the LORD, O foolish people and unwise? is not he thy father that hath bought thee? hath he not made thee, and established thee?

In God’s estimation, crookedness is perversity.¹ He does not call the crooked intelligent and forward-thinking, He calls them foolish and unwise.

Proverbs 2:12–15 (New International Version)Wisdom will save you from the ways of wicked men, from men whose words are perverse,

Who have left the straight paths to walk in dark ways,

Who delight in doing wrong and rejoice in the perverseness of evil,

Whose paths are crooked and who are devious in their ways.

In short, crookedness is sin. It is helpful to note that, while a variety of words are used to describe sin in both the Old and New Testaments, perhaps the best definition can be found in 1 John.

1 John 3:4 (New International Version)Everyone who sins breaks the law; in fact, sin is lawlessness.

The “law” referred to here is not merely speaking of the Ten Commandments.² God, being our Creator, has a way for us to live. Being a good God, that way is good, not simply right but good. And He has made that way clear in His Word. With this understanding, let’s return to Proverbs 2 and consider some details.

Proverbs 2:12–13 (New International Version)Wisdom will save you from the ways of wicked men, from men whose words are perverse,

Who have left the straight paths to walk in dark ways.

The Scriptures speak of these individuals not as innocently finding themselves off the path or even as having accidentally stumbled into darkness. They left the straight paths. That indicates a choice. It is the choice that Adam made, and the choice that his descendants continue to make.

Proverbs 2:14 (New International Version)Who delight in doing wrong and rejoice in the perverseness of evil.

The believer under the Old Testament law, whom many of these verses are describing, did not have the absolute freedom from sin that Christians enjoy today. Romans chapter 7 describes the thoughts of one of these believers.³ Though bound to sin, he did not delight in it. Rather, within himself he delighted in the law of God.⁴

Thank God, the freedom that the man of Romans 7 so longed for is now ours in Christ. Christians can now walk the straight path if they choose to do so.

Hebrews 12:12–13 (English Standard Version)Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees,

And make straight⁵ paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint but rather be healed.

The word translated “straight” in this verse is the Greek word orthos.⁶ This word, and its many compound forms, teach us much about the life that God desires. For example, we read that Paul confronted Peter for not walking straightly (orthopodeo) in the presence of other Jews.⁷

Clearly, despite the crookedness around us, God desires His people to walk straightly. How are we to do so?

2 Timothy 2:15 (King James Version)Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing (orthotomounta, straightly cutting) the word of truth.

Some workmen are very diligent in their cutting of the Scriptures, motivated by intellectual curiosity. We strive to “straightly cut” God’s Word because it is only through knowing His will that we can live in a way that is pleasing to Him. Far too many are walking crooked paths because they have mistaken the opinions of men for the Word of God.

Fortunately, if I have been walking a crooked path, or am drifting into one, I can turn to the Scriptures for doctrine, reproof, and correction.

2 Timothy 3:16 (King James Version)All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction (epanorthosis, restraightening⁸) for instruction in righteousness.

All of us who love God desire to walk in His straight way.⁹ His Word teaches us that way, and returns us to it when we have wandered off. The life of the Christian can and should stand out in this crooked world. Some may revile us for being “straight.” But some will, through us, find the path they have been searching for.

Philippians 2:14–15 (English Standard Version)Do all things without grumbling or questioning,

That you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of  a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world.